Weatherson in line to shoot down second former club

A free kick from Annan’s Peter Weatherson helped cause one of the shocks in last weekend’s First Round of the Ramsdens Cup and just 7 days after knocking his second club out he has the chance to knock out his first club this weekend.

Weatherson’s strike was the only goal of last Saturday’s game and it knocked out a Morton team who had honoured his ten years’ service with them just a fortnight previously with a Testimonial Game against St. Johnstone.

Having seen off the Greenock men Annan now travel to Weatherson’s first senior football home of Palmerston Park to take on another Championship side with the 33-year-old saying: “I was delighted to get my Annan career off to such a great start with a win over Morton. Scoring against my old club is not a bad way to begin things.”

The striker or defender may have made the headlines however he was keen to play them down saying: “It may have been my goal that won it but everybody worked really hard to get us the win.”

Weatherson had to work hard on his persuasive powers before scoring his match-winner as he explained: “We were awarded a free kick with 10 minutes to go from about 20 yards out.  I had to push David Hopkirk out of the way to take it.”

“I was telling him to give me the ball and thankfully he eventually did. I was even more thankful when my strike went in. I was wearing the number nine jersey but I was playing in defence and had not really thought about scoring up until that point.”

Weatherson had thought about finding the net as a striker in the days leading up to the game and he knew what he would do if he netted against his former Greenock colleagues – nothing.

Weatherson explained: “I did not celebrate my goal out of respect for Morton. I was there a long time and we were both loyal to each other over the years and whilst it was good to score I had said beforehand that I would not celebrate. I stick to that.”

“I joined them just after they had won the Third Division and helped them get up from the Second to the First. I had a lot of good times and a few bad times but most of all I have a lot of happy memories. It was time to move on during the summer and that is what I did.”

Weatherson was delighted to get the call from Annan boss Jim Chapman as he explained: “Annan are a really well run club so I was delighted to get the chance to go to Galabank. I want to be playing and Annan want me on the pitch to pass my experience on and the move was also great as I was able to gain more coaching experience as well.”

The opportunity to coach appeals to Weatherson and whilst he may have left the first team environment in Greenock he is still heavily involved with the club as he looks to build a career for after his playing days.

Weatherson explained; “I was coaching the Morton under-15’s last season and I am working with their under-14’s this year. I am also helping Jim and his assistant John Joyce down at Annan as well as doing some work with Key Fitness where Morton’s skipper Mark McLaughlin is involved along with my new boss.”

“I first got into coaching a few years ago when I started working with the under-17’s at Morton when I was 26 or 27. Since then I have taken all my badges and have now reached a Level 4 Qualification.”

There is no doubt in Weatherson’s mind as to what he wants to do with the experience he is building up as he said: “Coaching is my future career and like football I have a passion for it. I am not going to go away and do something different now.”

Weatherson the player and on the field coach will see some familiar faces again this week when Annan and Queen of the South meet in their first ever competitive game.

The Dumfries club have also played a significant part in his career where he was part of the team that won the Second Division title in 2002.

“I started my senior career at Queen of the South in 2000 and helped them to the title,” said Weatherson before adding: “They were good to me as when I joined from Newcastle Blue Star as a I was very raw and inexperienced in terms of playing at a high level. I was just turning 20 and I had been playing at a couple of levels below the Conference in England. John Connolly was the manager who took me to Dumfries after seeing me play when he was in charge at Ashington. He invited me up and the rest is history.”

That history will be relived this weekend with Weatherson saying: “I am looking forward to going back to Palmerston as I still have friends there from my time at the club. They are flying high at the moment after a great season last year and got off to a solid start under their new manager last week when they beat Spartans.”

“Like the Morton game we are underdogs again however we all stuck together well last Saturday. We play to our limitations but work hard and if we keep doing that then we will be okay.”

“This is the first competitive game between Annan and Queen of the South so it is a pretty memorable one that I am sure everyone will enjoy. We played each other in a pre-season friendly 3 weeks ago and Queen’s won but

I missed it as I was having my Testimonial Game for Morton that day against St Johnstone.”

Despite the game taking place where Weatherson began his career there are no plans to move closer to Palmerston and Galabank as Greenock is now home.

Weatherson explained: “The club put me up in a flat when I first came up and I have grown roots since then. I have a fiancé and family here now so I will travel to Annan for my playing and coaching duties.”

“I may no longer be playing there but I still have my ties with Morton even if have been stretched a bit in the past week.”